Cylinder cap system

ABSTRACT

A cylinder cap system for decreasing the amount of time required to remove and install a protective cap upon a gas cylinder. The cylinder cap system includes a cap member having a lower portion, a middle portion, an upper portion and a lower threaded opening, and a receiver member positioned concentrically within the upper portion for receiving a drive shaft of a ratchet tool. The receiver member is comprised of a floor and a plurality of inner walls forming a polygonal shaped structure for receiving a tool such as an allen wrench. A detent cavity is preferably positioned within an inner surface of the inner walls for catchably receiving a detent ball of the drive shaft of the tool.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable to this application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates generally to gas cylinder caps andmore specifically it relates to a cylinder cap system for decreasing theamount of time required to remove and install a protective cap upon agas cylinder.

[0005] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0006] Cylinder caps for protecting a valve upon a gas cylinder havebeen in use for years. Typically, a conventional cylinder cap iscomprised of a lower portion, a middle portion, an upper portion and alower threaded opening. The lower threaded opening within the cylindercap is threadably engagable upon threading of the gas cylindersurrounding the valve assembly of the gas cylinder. The cylinder cap iscomprised of a hollow structure for receiving and protecting the valveassembly of the gas cylinder.

[0007] The main problem with conventional cylinder caps is that they mayonly be removed or installed by a user grasping the cylinder cap androtating the cap with their hands. Another problem with conventionalcylinder caps is that they require a significant amount of time toremove and install upon gas cylinders particularly within a commercialenvironment where numerous gas cylinders are charged. Another problemwith conventional cylinder caps is that they sometimes become tightenedtoo much upon the gas cylinder and are difficult to remove with a user'shands.

[0008] Examples of patented devices which are related to the presentinvention include U.S. Pat. No. 3,648,885 to Kitsuda; U.S. Pat. No.2,661,113 to Benson; U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,708 to Lange et al.; U.S. Pat.No. 4,944,424 to Wood, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,568 to Trail; U.S. Pat.No. 4,332,331 to Fawley.

[0009] While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose towhich they address, they are not as suitable for decreasing the amountof time required to remove and install a protective cap upon a gascylinder. Conventional cylinder caps are difficult and time consuming toremove and install.

[0010] In these respects, the cylinder cap system according to thepresent invention substantially departs from the conventional conceptsand designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatusprimarily developed for the purpose of decreasing the amount of timerequired to remove and install a protective cap upon a gas cylinder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the knowntypes of protective covers for gas cylinders now present in the priorart, the present invention provides a new cylinder cap systemconstruction wherein the same can be utilized for decreasing the amountof time required to remove and install a protective cap upon a gascylinder.

[0012] The general purpose of the present invention, which will bedescribed subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new cylindercap system that has many of the advantages of the protective capsmentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a newcylinder cap system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious,suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art protective cylindercaps, either alone or in any combination thereof.

[0013] To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a capmember having a lower portion, a middle portion, an upper portion and alower threaded opening, and a receiver member positioned concentricallywithin the upper portion for receiving a drive shaft of a ratchet tool.The receiver member is comprised of a floor and a plurality of innerwalls forming a square shaped structure. A detent cavity is preferablypositioned within an inner surface of the inner walls for catchablyreceiving a detent ball of the drive shaft.

[0014] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofmay be better understood, and in order that the present contribution tothe art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of theinvention that will be described hereinafter and that will form thesubject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0015] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not beregarded as limiting.

[0016] A primary object of the present invention is to provide acylinder cap system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior artdevices.

[0017] A second object is to provide a cylinder cap system fordecreasing the amount of time required to remove and install aprotective cap upon a gas cylinder.

[0018] Another object is to provide a cylinder cap system that increasesworker satisfaction and safety when removing and installing cylindercaps upon a gas cylinder.

[0019] An additional object is to provide a cylinder cap system thatreduces worker fatigue and injury to workers.

[0020] A further object is to provide a cylinder cap system that is ableto work in conjunction with various types and sizes of ratchet tools.

[0021] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeobvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects andadvantages are within the scope of the present invention.

[0022] To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, thisinvention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawingsare illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specificconstruction illustrated and described within the scope of the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of thepresent invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomesbetter understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0024]FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present inventionpositioned upon a gas cylinder with a motorized ratchet positioned abovethereof.

[0025]FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of the present invention witha motorized ratchet positioned above thereof.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a side cutaway view of the present invention.

[0027]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0028] Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similarreference characters denote similar elements throughout the severalviews, FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate a cylinder cap system 10, whichcomprises a cap member 20 having a lower portion 22, a middle portion24, an upper portion 26 and a lower threaded opening 28, and a receivermember 30 positioned concentrically within the upper portion 26 forreceiving a drive shaft 14 of a ratchet tool 12. The receiver member 30is comprised of a floor 32 and a plurality of inner walls 34 forming asquare shaped structure. A detent cavity 36 is preferably positionedwithin an inner surface of the inner walls 34 for catchably receiving adetent ball 16 of the drive shaft 14.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings, the cap member 20is comprised of a lower portion 22, a middle portion 24, and an upperportion 26 having a generally hollow structure defining an interiorcavity for receiving the valve assembly of the gas cylinder 18. Thelower portion 22 of the cap member 20 is typically tapered inwardly asbest shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The upper portion 26 of the capmember 20 is preferably rounded as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 of thedrawings. The middle portion 24 is preferably comprised of a consistentdiameter as best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Openings may alsoextending within the cap member 20 as is well known in the art.

[0030] It can be appreciated that the cap member 20 may be comprised ofvarious sizes, shapes and structures without sacrificing the ability toprotect the valve assembly of a gas cylinder 18. The cap member 20 mayalso be comprised of various materials such as but not limited to metal,composite material and plastic.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, a lower threaded opening 28extends into the lower portion 22 of the cap member 20. The lowerthreaded opening 28 is formed for threadably engaging a threaded portionsurrounding the valve assembly of the gas cylinder 18. The lowerthreaded opening 28 may have various threading sizes and various innerdiameters.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings, a receiver member30 is positioned concentrically within the upper portion 26 of the capmember 20 for receiving a drive shaft 14 of a ratchet tool 12. Thereceiver member 30 is comprised of a floor 32 and a plurality of innerwalls 34 extending upwardly from the floor 32 defining a polygonalcavity for receiving a correspondingly shaped drive shaft 14 of aratchet tool 12 or hand tool such as an allen wrench. The polygonalcavity may be comprised of a square shape, hexagonal shape or otherwell-known shape engageable with tools. The receiver member 30 ispreferably formed for receiving various sizes and shapes of a driveshaft 14.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the upper ends of the innerwalls 34 are attached within the upper portion 26 concentrically. Theinner walls 34 extend downwardly into the cap member 20 as further shownin FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings. In an alternative embodiment notshown in the figures, the receiver member 30 may be attached to theexterior surface of the cap member 20 with the floor 32 attached to theupper portion 26 and the inner walls 34 extending upwardly from thefloor 32.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, a detent cavity 36 ispreferably formed within the inner surface of the inner walls 34 forcatchably receiving a detent ball 16 of the ratchet tool 12. The detentcavity 36 may be positioned within one or more of the inner walls 34.

[0035] The receiver member 30 is constructed for receiving variousshapes, sizes and styles of a drive shaft 14 from a ratchet tool 12. Theratchet tool 12 may be motorized (i.e. air or electric) or a manualdrive structure. As can be appreciated, various types of ratchet tools12 may be utilized in conjunction with the present invention.

[0036] To remove a cap member 20 from the gas cylinder 18, the userinserts the drive shaft 14 into the upper opening of the receiver member30. The user then operates the ratchet tool 12 to rotate the cap member20 within the removal direction. Once the cap member 20 is removed, theuser removes the drive shaft 14 from the receiver member 30 and then maycontinue to another gas cylinder 18.

[0037] To install a cap member 20 upon a gas cylinder 18, the userinserts the drive shaft 14 into the upper opening of the receiver member30. The user then positions the lower threaded opening 28 upon thethreaded portion of the gas cylinder 18. Alternatively, the user maydesire to initially attached the cap member 20 with their hands and thenattach the drive shaft 14 to the receiver member 30. The user thenoperates the ratchet tool 12 to rotate the cap member 20 within theattachment direction which is opposite of the removal direction. Oncethe cap member 20 is snugly attached, the user removes the drive shaft14 from the receiver member 30 and then may continue to another gascylinder 18.

[0038] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operationof the present invention, the same should be apparent from the abovedescription. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the mannerof usage and operation will be provided.

[0039] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realizedthat the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of theinvention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed to bewithin the expertise of those skilled in the art, and all equivalentstructural variations and relationships to those illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification are intended to beencompassed by the present invention.

[0040] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only ofthe principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modificationsand changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

I claim:
 1. A cylinder cap system threadably attachable to a gascylinder, comprising: a cap member having a lower portion, a middleportion, an upper portion, and a lower threaded opening within saidlower portion, wherein said cap member is comprised of a hollowstructure for receiving and protecting a valve assembly; and a receivermember secured within said upper portion of said cap member forremovably receiving a drive shaft of a ratchet tool.
 2. The cylinder capsystem of claim 1, wherein said receiver member is comprised of: aplurality of inner walls forming an upper opening; and a floor attachedto said plurality of inner walls opposite of said upper opening.
 3. Thecylinder cap system of claim 2, including at least one detect cavitywithin an inner surface of said plurality of inner walls for catchablyreceiving a detent ball from a drive shaft of a ratchet tool.
 4. Thecylinder cap system of claim 3, wherein said receiver member extendsinwardly within said cap member.
 5. The cylinder cap system of claim 4,wherein an upper end of said plurality of inner walls are attached tosaid upper portion of said cap member.
 6. The cylinder cap system ofclaim 1, wherein said receiver member is concentrically attached to saidcap member.
 7. The cylinder cap system of claim 6, wherein said receivermember is comprised of: four inner walls forming an upper opening; and afloor attached to said plurality of inner walls opposite of said upperopening.
 8. The cylinder cap system of claim 7, including at least onedetect cavity within an inner surface of said plurality of inner wallsfor catchably receiving a detent ball from a drive shaft of a ratchettool.
 9. The cylinder cap system of claim 8, wherein said receivermember extends inwardly within said cap member.
 10. The cylinder capsystem of claim 9, wherein an upper end of said plurality of inner wallsare attached to said upper portion of said cap member.